Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

HB 925, the CLEAR Act, creates a Peer Committee to review newly adopted state agency rules and report to the legislature on whether they align with the original law's intent. It requires annual reports on up to 30 rules per year (starting at 15 in year one) and mandates a triennial evaluation of Mississippi's Medicaid non-emergency transportation program to identify cost-effective service delivery. The bill also establishes a State Board of Health Professions to coordinate health regulatory boards, assess coordination needs, evaluate regulated professions, and resolve practice conflicts. These provisions aim to improve state agency accountability and efficiency through structured oversight and interagency collaboration.

HB 1640 requires Mississippi's Department of Human Services (DHS) to use automated commercial wage verification services - regulated under the Fair Credit Reporting Act - to obtain current job and income information for determining eligibility and ongoing monitoring for public benefit programs. It directly affects DHS and individuals applying for or receiving benefits like SNAP (food stamps) and TANF (cash assistance). The bill mandates DHS to employ these third-party services instead of manual verification methods to verify employment and income data. This change aims to standardize and streamline eligibility checks for state benefit programs starting July 1, 2026.

HB 1171 requires Mississippi state agencies administering grants to establish measurable quarterly and annual objectives, mandate detailed quarterly financial reports from primary grant recipients (including subrecipient spending), and prohibit using grant funds for voter registration or get-out-the-vote activities (with immediate termination and 5-year debarment for violations). It also mandates public transparency through state websites displaying all active grants, recipient details, performance metrics, and financial reports updated within 14 days. The bill directly affects state agencies, nongovernmental organizations receiving primary grants, and their subrecipients. Key mechanisms include annual compliance audits by the state auditor, strict eligibility criteria banning political preference, and a 5-year review cycle for all grant programs.

Notified of Approval

Notified of Approval